Double-copper-oxid battery element



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGES. ENGLE, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OFCOLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN ELEMENTARY ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Do'UBLn-corrER-oxm BATTERY ELEMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent. i Patented'Oct; 19, 1920,

No Drawing. Original application filedOctober 8, 1912, Serial No. 724,606. Divided and this application filed April 6, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE S. ENGLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vashington, in the District of Columbia,

have invented new and useful Improvethe primary objects of the invention are to provide a double copper oxid plate embodying in the main cupric oxid and a minimized quantity of cuprous, oxid to form a battery element which will start electrolytic action without short circuiting or reducing the surface to cuprous oxid, and also to produce a more durable and lasting element.

In forming the plate a bar of copper is heated to such temperature that when sprayed with water blisters will be formed on the surface thereof. These blisters are then scraped off the bar in the form of copper flakes which are mainly black oxid of copper or cupric oxid containing some pure metalliccopper. These flakes are then suitably treated to eliminate any unctuous matter therefrom, such as oleaginous or greasy substances, by boiling the flakes in hot water, whichlatter step may be pursued without in theleast affecting or changing the desirable black oxid of copper properties of the flakes.

binder is next prepared and consists of sugar, refined and clarified by bone black and free of ultramarine blue, dissolved in water brought to the boiling point in the proportion of two parts sugar toione part of Water. The flakes are thoroughly mixed with this binder and then pressed into compact form and shaped by any suitable means and placed in a curing oven and subjected to heat. During this curing action the binder melts at 365 F.; between 400 and 420 F., the binder loses two molecules of Water and is converted into caramel, a very thick and black liquor. At a still higher temperature the binder yields combustible gases, etc., and the remaining portion of reoao .Serial No. 19,545.

siduum is one-fourth of its weight and in the form of charcoal. The heat of the curing oven is carried up to 500 F.

The plate in the condition just specified is next placed in a baking oven where the temperature is about 1200 F. In this baking oven the charcoal residue of the binder completely burns out without the least final residue, and the metallic copper is changed to cuprous oxid by the said high degree of heat. While the plate or product thus treated is red with heat it is immediately put intoa suitable press and compressed or forced into a hard, dense and strong mass of black oxid.

of copper and cuprous oxid. The plate or compressed mass is then taken from the press and allowed to cool in the air.

As hereinbefore stated, the resultant plate produced as explained will be found materially advantageous for the particular pur pose for which it has been devised, as it will start electrolytic action without short circuiting or reducing the surface to cuprous oxid and has a longer and more durable practical service than other plates having binders which cannot be'wholly eliminated by heat and other means.

.lVhat is claimed is:

1. An element of an electric battery consisting of a copper oxid plate embodying black oxid of copper or cupric oxid in the main and a minimized quantity of cuprous oxid intimately mixed with the cupric oxid and entirely free of binder residuum.

' 2. An element of an electric battery consisting of a copper oxid plate embodying mainly cupric oxid and a minimum quan tity of cuprous oxid in intermixed condition. 7

3. An element of an electric battery consisting of a plate composed of black oxid of copper or cupric oxid and red oxid of copper or cuprous oxid mixed throughout the body of the plate.

4:. An element of an electric battery consisting of a plate composed of cupric and cuprous oxids of copper held in compact mass throughout the thickness of the plate without an additional binder.

5. An electrode for batteries composed of cupric oxid (C110) and cuprous oxid 6. An electrode for batteries formed of cuprie oxid flakes (CuO) and cuprous oxid 7. An electrode for batteries formed of compressed cupric 0Xid in flake form and cuprous oxid.

8. A11 electrode for batteries formed of compressed cupric oxid and cuprous oxid.

9. A11 electrode for batteries formed 01:

cupric oxid and cuprous oXid in the form of scales of appreciable size bonded together,

and compressed intoa dense hard mass.

10. A11 electrode for batteries formed of cupric oXid and cuprous oxid in. the form of scales of appreciable size bonded and fused together in a dense, hard mass by the application of heat and pressure.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set myhand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE S. ENGLE.

SADIE STANFORD \VHITE. 

